- Tahirih Justice Center

PROMOTING JUSTICE
FOR
WOMEN
AND
GIRLS WORLDWIDE
2002
Annual Report
The Tahirih Justice Center’s logo, an illustration of a bird in flight, symbolizes a foundational principle of the Center derived from the Bahá’í Faith. Abdu’l-Bahá, the son
of the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, once stated,
The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as
these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly. Until womankind
reaches the same degree as man, until she enjoys the same arena of activity, extraordinary
attainment for humanity will not be realized; humanity cannot wing its way to heights
of real attainment. When the two wings . . . become equivalent in strength, enjoying the
same prerogatives, the flight of man will be exceedingly lofty and extraordinary.
The Tahirih Justice Center is founded on the belief that the achievement of full equality
between women and men is necessary for society to progress. Tahirih works toward legal
and social justice for women and girls as a critical step in making this equality a reality.
Graphic Design:
Photography:
Michael Colella • Layli Miller-Muro
Faranak Aghdasi
Tahirih Justice Center
P.O. Box 7638 • Falls Church, VA 22040
www.tahirih.org
justice@tahirih.org
Phone: 703-237-4554 • Fax: 703-237-4574
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M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
The mission of the Tahirih Justice Center is to enable women and
girls who face gender-based violence to access justice.
TA H I R I H
Tahirih (Tah-heh-ray) was a renowned poet, Bahá’í religious scholar and champion of women’s
rights during the mid-19th century. She traveled from village to village in her native Persia,
campaigning for the emancipation of women, announcing the dawn of a new day, and encouraging women to oppose their systematic oppression. A member of the persecuted Bahá’í Faith,
Tahirih is most famous for being the first woman in recorded Middle Eastern history to publicly remove her veil before an assemblage of men in 1848. Tahirih took this radical step in the
East during the same year that the New York Seneca Falls Conference launched the first
women’s rights movement in the West. To her detractors, Tahirih proclaimed, “You can kill me
if you like, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women.” Tahirih was martyred for her beliefs
in 1852 at the age of 36.
Ivan Lloyd
HISTORY
Layli Miller-Muro founded the Tahirih Justice Center in 1997 following a wellpublicized asylum case in which she was involved as a student attorney. The case
was that of Fauziya Kassindja, a 17-year old woman who fled Togo in fear of a
forced polygamous marriage and a tribal practice known as female genital mutilation (FGM). After arriving in the United States and spending more than 17
months in detention, Ms. Kassindja was granted asylum on appeal. Her case set
national precedent and revolutionized asylum law in the United States, opening
Ms. Miller-Muro and Ms. Kassindja
at a press conference in 1996
the door to those seeking protection from gender-based persecution. Ms. MillerMuro provided initial funding for Tahirih through the proceeds of a book about
Ms. Kassindja’s case released in March 1998. The book, Do They Hear You When
You Cry? (Delacorte Press 1998), tells the story of Ms. Kassindja’s flight from FGM in Togo, her fight for freedom from
INS detention facilities, and her ultimate grant of asylum.
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A N OV E RV I E W O F TA H I R I H ’ S P R O G R A M S
The Tahirih Justice Center engages in pro bono legal representation and advocacy in cases that champion the rights of women
and protect them from international human rights abuses. Tahirih’s advocacy includes both direct service to individual women
and larger efforts to transform policies, develop regulations, and set precedent so that systemic change will ensure the long-term
protection of women from violence. Through its services, the Center has assisted over 3,200 individuals in finding justice. The
Center’s clients are from the most underserved immigrant populations, primarily from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
•
Legal Protection from Gender-Based Persecution: Through direct litigation and public policy advocacy, Tahirih
encourages the development of laws to protect women and girls fleeing such abuses as female genital mutilation, honor
crimes, forced prostitution, rape and incest, trafficking, gender-apartheid, and forced sterilization. Tahirih provides free
legal representation in-house and, in an effort to maximize the number of women served, refers additional cases to law
firms that have agreed to provide pro bono legal services to its clients. Taking a holistic approach to serving its clients,
Tahirih also offers a range of social and medical services referrals.
•
Campaign to End Exploitation by International Marriage Brokers: Over the past few years, the international
marriage broker industry has exploded in response to American men’s demands for “traditional wives.” Although some of
these unions are beneficial to both parties, an increasing number of women are paired with abusive men. Often unfamiliar with the U.S. social and legal systems and the English language, and told inaccurate information about their rights
by agencies wanting to keep them in their contracted marriages, many women are left in dangerously violent relationships.
Tahirih’s Campaign advocates for legislative change, accountability of international marriage broker agencies, and protection of the women through litigation and public outreach.
•
International Projects to Promote Legal Protection for Women and Girls: At a historic time, when many countries are passing laws and engaging in efforts to protect women from violence, the Tahirih Justice Center works to define
and expand legal protections for women and girls. Tahirih’s efforts span the globe and include Ghana, Gambia, Kuwait,
Brazil, Australia, and Germany. Tahirih’s international activities
include training adjudicators and legal advocates, promoting
the development of legislation and regulations, fostering grassroots empowerment of women’s rights organizations, working
with local law firms to promote a culture of pro bono advocacy, and engaging in media and public advocacy.
•
Battered Immigrant Women Advocacy Project: Tahirih
represents immigrant women who face domestic violence in
seeking lawful status such as asylum or legal permanent residence under the provisions of the Violence Against Women Act
and other laws. For some of the Center’s clients, this means
that they are not forced to choose between deportation and
remaining in an abusive relationship.
Tahirih staff meeting with a client
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HOLISTIC ADVOCACY • CHANGING THE SYSTEM
The Tahirih Justice Center seeks to bring justice to the lives of women facing
human rights abuses by transforming policies and law through direct services,
outreach, and advocacy. Tahirih takes a holistic approach, recognizing that
receiving immediate and urgent legal protection from abuse is just the
beginning for women in their journey to attain justice.
Policy Advocac
y
blic
Pu
each and Educa
r
t
tio
Ou
n
al Advocacy
g
e
L
Hol
istic S ervice
The Tahirih Justice Center provides legal advocacy in cases that champion the rights of women and protect them from
international human rights abuses. Through litigation, statutory and regulatory development, collaboration with government agencies and like-minded organizations, and public outreach, Tahirih seeks to
transform the legal system so that women are better protected from violence. The
direct services component of Tahirih’s work is essential to its effective public policy
advocacy. Through its intimate understanding of the abuse suffered by immigrant
women and girls, the Tahirih Justice Center is better able to design and execute campaigns for systemic change.
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EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY:
In order to change the system so that women are protected from violence under the law, the
Tahirih Justice Center engaged in the following efforts in 2002.
•
Launched the “Campaign to End Exploitation by International Marriage Brokers:” Tahirih is pioneering civil
litigation against the “mail order bride” industry in order to end exploitation of foreign born women by international marriage brokers (IMBs). Additionally, Tahirih is proposing federal legislation that would regulate the industry and require
the revelation of marital history and criminal background information to potential brides.
•
Lobbied the U.S. Department of Justice for Relief for Victims of Trafficking: Tahirih provided valuable expertise to policy advocates based on its daily experience in working with victims of trafficking. Tahirih participated in meetings with government agencies and coalitions of immigrant rights organizations, and was interviewed extensively by the
National Institute of Justice, which was researching trafficking on behalf of the Justice Department for an in-depth study
of how the new trafficking legislation is being implemented on the ground. In 2002, new visas for trafficking victims were
finally promulgated.
•
Enforced the Utilization of the U Visa:
The government designed the U visa for immigrant victims of crime (such as involuntary
servitude, abuse, trafficking, domestic workers,
etc.), however, it requires the cooperation of
law enforcement, which is difficult to obtain.
Tahirih worked with INS headquarters to
make the government aware of resistance from
law enforcement officials and to remedy the
problem.
As a result of these efforts, in
December 2002, Tahirih successfully obtained
the first recommendation for an affirmative U
visa deferred action request in the Washington,
Afghan client being interviewed by the press
D.C. region.
•
Opposed the Board of Immigration Appeals Restructuring: The Tahirih Justice Center aggressively opposed the
restructuring of the Board of Immigration Appeals, which would limit the ability of immigrants to receive fair appellate
review of their cases, by drafting regulation comments, participating in sign-on letters, coalition meetings, press conferences, and other initiatives to apply pressure to the Justice Department.
•
Supported the Ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW):
The United States is one of the few countries left in the world (and the only Western country) that has yet to ratify
CEDAW. In an effort to encourage its ratification, Tahirih led meetings on Capitol Hill with Congressional representatives, participated in weekly coalition meetings, helped organize press conferences, and drafted “letters to the editor.” In
addition, one of Tahirih’s clients spoke at a CEDAW press conference and was featured in an informational booklet that
was disseminated to lawmakers to better inform them about CEDAW.
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P R OT E C T I N G WO M E N F R O M I N T E R NAT I O NA L
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
Building upon the precedent-setting case that enabled its creation, the Tahirih Justice Center specializes in seeking asylum for
victims of gender-based persecution. Tahirih’s legal services cater to the unique needs of women and girls fleeing human rights
abuses, particularly from such underserved areas as Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Tahirih pursues gender-based asylum
claims to protect women and girls from persecution including forced FGM, rape, torture, trafficking, honor crimes, forced
marriage, domestic violence, widow rituals, and sexual slavery.
The need for representation in gender-based asylum claims is acute, as violence against women continues to increase. According to the United Nations, 2 million women are forced to undergo FGM throughout Africa per year; over 12.5 million women were living under a system of gender apartheid in
Afghanistan until very recently; over 850 women were killed by male relatives in Pakistan last year for
‘violating family honor’; one out of every four women is a victim of domestic violence in Brazil; and nearly 50,000 women and children from Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe are brought to the United
States each year under false pretenses and forced to work as prostitutes, captive laborers, or servants.
In 2001 alone, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (“INS”) received 23,261 applications for
asylum from women fleeing persecution. The vast majority of those women applying for asylum were
from Africa, the Middle East or Asia and do not have access to an attorney. Approximately 18.3% of foreign-born women in the U.S. live below the poverty line, making their access to legal services almost
impossible. Economic hardships combined with cultural obstacles and lack of language capacity hinder
immigrant women’s ability to seek protection when they are victims of abuse. Although the last publicly reported nationwide
rate of approval for asylum applications was 23.3%, the Tahirih Justice Center’s rate of asylum grants is 98%, underscoring the
importance of competent legal representation.
A CLIENT VICTORY
On March 5, 2002, the Tahirih Justice Center assisted a four-year old Nigerian girl in receiving political asylum based on the threat
of FGM. Her father’s family, of Urhobo ethnicity, threatened to perform FGM on her after her father, who vehemently opposed
the practice, died unexpectedly. Although the girl’s mother attempted to protect her, the family of the girl’s father blamed her
mother for his death. She fled with her mother to the United States, where she found assistance through the Tahirih Justice Center.
Although only four years old, she was able to testify on her own behalf. When the girl received asylum, she signed her own asylum grant, standing on a chair in order to reach the window. After she signed her name, the INS clapped and congratulated her.
Tahirih also represented her mother, a 31-year-old Nigerian woman, who fled with her daughter and son to
the United States after her husband’s death. The client’s in-laws accused her of killing her husband because
he died at a young age. According to Urhobo custom, she was to endure certain widow-rituals to prove her
innocence. As part of these rituals, the client would have to drink the bathwater that was used to bathe her
husband’s corpse, sleep in the same room as the body of her dead husband, and shave her head, among other
mourning rituals. The client feared her in-laws would poison the bathwater. She also feared severe physical abuse if she were to return to Nigeria since they had already decided she was guilty. With the assistance
of the Tahirih Justice Center, she was granted asylum shortly after her daughter.
A daughter of a TJC client (not described in the story above)
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PROTECTING IMMIGRANT WOMEN WHO ARE
SURVIVERS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
In 2002, the Tahirih Justice Center received a federal grant from the Violence Against Women Office to support its Battered
Immigrant Women Advocacy Project, which provides legal assistance to immigrant women facing domestic violence. Through
this project, Tahirih helps battered immigrant women access legal protections to be freed from a cycle of violence. One of the
legal remedies permits them to self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for legal permanent resident status when they are abused by U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouses. This provision prevents abused immigrant women
from being forced to choose between staying in an abusive relationship and possible deportation.
To maximize battered immigrant women’s access to legal services, Tahirih gives presentations at numerous social service organizations about the special rights and needs of abused foreign-born populations. Additionally, Tahirih regularly gives trainings
on how service providers can remove institutional barriers to better work with persons who have limited English proficiency,
and on what immigration relief may be available to abused non-citizens.
A CLIENT VICTORY
When Sonia learned that she would be having an arranged marriage in
Pakistan with Ahmed, a U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, she was very excited to become a wife and start a family. Her excitement waned shortly after
her wedding, however, as she began to learn more about her new husband.
Ahmed started to verbally abuse Sonia only one week after her arrival in the
United States and, in the months that followed, she discovered that Ahmed’s
prior wives had protective orders against him. Ahmed became obsessively
jealous and possessive of her; restricting Sonia from leaving their home or
from contacting her family and friends. After the birth of their child, the
physical abuse began. The abuse was so severe that she lost consciousness on
one occasion when she was being strangled.
Desperate to protect both herself and her child from Ahmed’s cruelty, Sonia
finally moved into a battered women’s shelter and obtained a protective order
against Ahmed. With the assistance of a pro bono attorney recruited by
Tahirih, Sonia filed for legal status. Independent from her husband’s abuse,
Sonia has now been able to move forward and rebuild her life.
*Names have been changed.
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E N D I N G E X P L O I TAT I O N BY I N T E R NAT I O NA L
MARRIAGE BROKERS
Over the past few years, the international marriage broker industry (also known as the “mail order bride industry”) has exploded in response to American men’s demands for “traditional wives.” Although some of these unions are beneficial to both parties, an increasing number of women are paired with abusive men. Often unfamiliar with the U.S. system and the English language, and told inaccurate information about their rights by agencies wanting to keep them in their contracted marriages,
many women are left in dangerously violent relationships. Tahirih’s Campaign to End Exploitation
by International Marriage Brokers (IMBs) advocates
for legislative change, accountability of agencies, and
the protection of women through litigation and
The Campaign was inspired by one of Tahirih’s
clients, a Ukrainian woman, who suffered brutal
abuse at the hands of the husband she was paired
Photo credit: Family Photo
public outreach.
with through an IMB. The woman’s husband physically and emotionally abused her throughout their
two-year marriage, breaking her ribs and threatening
Anastasia King, a native of Kyrgyzstan, was only 20 years old when she was murdered
in Washington State by her American husband, whom she had met and married
through an international marriage broker.
her with a gun on one particularly traumatic occasion as she breastfed the couple’s infant daughter. The woman’s efforts to seek help from the IMB president were futile. The
IMB president minimized the abuse and failed to provide her with important information about her legal rights. Even more
disturbing was the fact that she was not the first woman to have been placed with this abusive man by the IMB.
This case, which is merely one among so many others like it across the country, reflects the widespread abuse of immigrant
women and the complicity of IMBs in knowingly or negligently pairing these women with abusive American spouses. Seeking
to fill this void in the justice system, the Tahirih Justice Center, with the assistance of Arnold & Porter, is proposing federal
legislation to help protect women who come to the United States through the unregulated IMB industry and is bringing civil
suits against an IMB and an abusive spouse. Tahirih’s proposed bill, if passed, would be the first of its kind in the U.S. at the
federal level to require the revelation of criminal background information by clients of IMBs to their potential spouses.
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THE PRO BONO REFERRAL PROGRAM
With the support of the David and Minnie Berk Foundation, the Tahirih Justice Center hired Anjum Kapoor Sikka, Esq. in
2002, to serve as a Pro-Bono Coordinating Attorney. This position has dramatically increased Tahirih’s ability to represent
greater numbers of abused immigrant women by developing its pro bono attorney network, referral resources, and comprehensive training materials for pro bono attorneys. Tahirih closely mentors and supports its collaborating pro bono attorneys.
Thank you to the law firms and attorneys who have taken on many cases
of women and girls facing violence on a pro bono basis.
FIRMS:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Arnold & Porter
Covington & Burling
Debevoise & Plimpton
Foley, Hoag & Eliot
Fragomen, Del Ray, Bernsen & Loewy, P.C.
Greenburg Traurig, LLP
Hogan & Hartson
Jones Day
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP
Maggio & Kattar, P.C.
Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo
Patton Boggs
Pederson & Freedman
Pennie & Edmonds
Piper Rudnick
Shaw Pittman
Wiley, Rein & Fielding, LLP
Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering
TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER IS
FEATURED BY CNN WORLD REPORT
On March 3, 2002, CNN World Report aired a story
detailing the Tahirih Justice Center’s work on behalf of
Afghan women and children. While the report focused
on Tahirih’s direct legal representation on behalf of
Afghan women seeking resettlement and admission to
the United States, it also described Tahirih’s unique programs, which advocate for policy, systemic, and legal
change to protect women facing violence in the U.S. and
abroad. Along with the Tahirih Justice Center’s staff,
PRIVATE ATTORNEYS:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Donna Apostol (Independent)
Ana Avendano (Independent)
Marisa Cianciarulo (Independent)
Meg DeRhonge (Independent)
Susan McGreivy (Independent)
Kristi Severance (Independent)
CNN interviewed one of Tahirih’s Afghan clients named
Farida - a human rights activist from Afghanistan who
received protection in the U.S. with the Center’s assistance. In December 2001, Farida had the honor of
introducing President Bush during the signing of the
Afghan Women’s and Children’s Assistance Act.
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WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTED
The Tahirih Justice Center:
• Receives approximately 10 phone calls
per week for assistance;
• Helped 681 people in 2002;
• Helped 3,268 people since the Center
began in 1997;
• Is currently representing 198 clients in
active cases; and
• Has won 98% of its cases to date. (None
of its immigration clients have ever been
forced to leave the country.)
LETTE
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E P O R T
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P U B L I C O U T R E AC H A N D E D U C AT I O N
The Tahirih Justice Center believes that to achieve justice for
women, legal and societal institutions must be transformed to
more effectively protect women from violence. In light of
this, in 2002, Tahirih’s staff and clients engaged in a wide
range of activities designed to raise awareness about the plight
of women and immigrants and to transform law and policy.
MEDIA FEATURING THE CENTER AND
ITS STAFF
Digital Freedom Network, www.dfn.org/chat/chattranscripts.htm, “Human rights lawyer Irena Lieberman chats
with DFN readers about the new opportunities and challenges
that lie ahead for Afghan women,” January 2002
Picayune Times, “War Brings Attention to Women’s Own
Fight,” February 2002
CNN World Report, “Helping Afghan Women,” March 2002
Channels 4 and 7, Press Conference, March 2002
The Telegraph, “Lawyer Addresses Women’s Rights in Speech at
SIUE,” March 2002
Public radio interviews with Susan Arbetter, March 2002
Radio Free Europe, June 2002
KPFT 90.1FM, Houston, TX, June 2002
Interpreter Releases, “INS Grants Asylum Based on Widow
Ritual and FGM,” August 2002
Washington Times, “Center Asks Asylum for Victims,” August 2002
American Bar Association’s Women’s Magazine, column
written by Layli Miller-Muro, September 2002
Imperial Valley Press, October 2002
XM Radio, Radio One, “Female Genital Mutilation,” November 2002
PUBLIC SPEECHES
Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA ..............February
Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle, PA.......................February
Tulane Law School, New Orleans, LA ....................February
Borders Book Store, Rockville, MD ...........................February
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP,
Washington, DC......................................................February
Tulane University Women’s Law Association,
New Orleans, LA .....................................................February
Korean Community Service Center,
Washington, DC......................................................February
Maryland Multi-Ethnic Resource Center,
College Park, MD....................................................February
National Women Law Students’ Association,
Lubbock, TX ...............................................................March
Women’s Center, Springfield, IL......................................March
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Edwardsville,
IL .................................................................................March
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH....................March
Hogan & Hartson LLP Brown Bag Lunch Program,
Washington, DC .........................................................March
Asian Domestic Violence Resource Center,
Washington, DC .........................................................March
Girls Advisory Board, College Park, MD .......................March
Crossways Community, Kensington, MD......................March
Smith College, Northampton, MA..................................March
International Law Students Association Annual
Conference, Washington, DC ...................................March
Trinity College, Washington, DC....................................March
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ ................................April
St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN..................................April
University of Virginia Law School,
Charlottesville, VA .........................................................April
Georgetown University, Washington, DC .......................April
Public Leadership Education Network,
Washington, DC.............................................................May
Ethiopian Community Development Council,
Arlington, VA..................................................................May
Ethiopian Community Development Council,
Arlington, VA..................................................................June
Women’s Information Network,
Washington, DC.............................................................June
Bahá’í Justice Society Annual Conference,
College Park, MD...........................................................June
Human Rights Celebration event,
Denver, CO ................................................................August
Global Young Leaders Conference,
Washington, DC.........................................................August
South Asian Bar Association,
Washington, DC ...................................................September
United Methodist Church,
Washington, DC.......................................................October
American University Washington College of Law,
Washington, DC.......................................................October
Social Action and Leadership School for Activists,
Washington, DC.......................................................October
Vital Voices Global Leadership Institute,
Washington, DC.......................................................October
Washington Area Women’s Foundation,
Washington, DC.......................................................October
Loudoun County Department of Mental Health,
Mental Retardation &...........................................November
Substance Abuse, Leesburg, VA
Western Piedmont Community College,
Morganton, NC ....................................................November
American University Washington College of Law,
Washington, DC ...................................................November
National Cathedral, Washington, DC ......................November
V-Day event, Washington, DC...................................December
PUBLICATIONS
United Nations Chronicle, March-May 2002
Human Rights for All, by Leila Rassekh Milani, 2002
World Order Magazine, “One Person Can Make a Difference:
The Tahirih Justice Center,” Winter Issue 2002
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TA H I R I H J U S T I C E C E N T E R WA S H I N G T O N
L AW Y E R S ’ N E T W O R K
The TJC Washington Lawyers’ Network (TJC WLN) was founded to
mobilize and sustain a philanthropic network of Washington area
lawyers to promote awareness of, and provide funding for, the Tahirih
Justice Center, in support of Tahirih’s efforts to enable women and girls
who face gender-based violence to access justice worldwide.
In 2002, the TJC WLN planned two
successful fundraising events and raised
approximately $10,000 from membership
dues.
Attendants at a WLN event
MEMBERS:
Dawn Browning, Legal Services Corporation
Jodi Finder, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP
Rachael Galoob Ortega, Cole, Raywid & Braverman, LLP
Robert Garagiola, Greenberg Traurig
Kristy Hall, Cole, Raywid & Braverman
Tania Hanna, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Karen Harbaugh, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP
Jennifer Hodges
Don Luther, Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman
Shirley Marshall, Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, Inc
Bridget McGovern, Brand & Frulla
Erika Moritsugu, Hogan & Hartson LLP
Amy Ralph Mudge, Arnold & Porter
Leslie Nickel, Arnold & Porter
Ronald Schechter, Arnold & Porter
Michael Sozan, Arnold & Porter
Julie Stapel, Patton Boggs
Jonathan Stoel, Hogan & Hartson LLP
Marti Thomas, Quinn Gillespie
Honored by the Washington Area
Women’s Foundation
On October 1, 2002, the Tahirih Justice Center was
honored by the Washington Area Women’s
Foundation for its pioneering efforts to protect
immigrant women and girls in the Washington,
D.C. area from violence. The award provided a
grant of $5,000 and organizational capacity building training opportunities.
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BANQUET
TJC 2002 Banquet Honors the Role of Women in Achieving Peace and
Receives Support from First Lady Laura Bush
The Tahirih Justice Center’s Fifth Annual Fundraising Banquet
was held on June 27, 2002 at the Park Hyatt Hotel in
Washington, D.C. “Honoring the Role of Women in Achieving
Peace” was the theme and highlighted the tremendous contributions women have made toward the advancement of humanity
and global peace. First Lady Laura Bush sent a letter to the banquet attendants in which she wrote, “I commend you for your
extraordinary work. Your advocacy on behalf of women and girls
promotes justice and fights violence.” The “TJC Volunteer
Service Award” was given to Kavian and Leila Milani for their
TJC client speaking at 2002 banquet
generosity and service towards the Tahirih’s clients, one of whom
has lived in the Milanis’ home. Michael Maggio, of Maggio & Kattar, was the recipient of the “TJC Pushing the Envelope
Award” for his pioneering legal work and generous service to immigrants. Tahirih Justice Center clients Marian Ogodi Jenkins
from Nigeria, and Farida from Afghanistan, spoke with passion about their experiences.
CONGRESSIONAL CO-CHAIRS FOR THE 2002
ANNUAL BANQUET
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Sam Brownback
Senator Lincoln Chafee
Senator Mark Dayton
Senator Richard Durbin
Senator Daniel Inouye
Senator Mary Landrieu
Senator Robert Torricelli
Congressman Neil Abercrombie
Congressman Brian Baird
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
Congressman David E. Bonior
Congressman Benjamin L. Cardin
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Congressman John D. Dingell
Congressman Lloyd Doggett
Congresswoman Lane Evans
Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega
Congressman Richard Gephardt
Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest
Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez
Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey
Congressman Michael M. Honda
Congressman Stephen Horn
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer
Congressman Steve Israel
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice
Johnson
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congressman John Lewis
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
Congressman Frank Mascara
Congressman Gregory W. Meeks
Congressman George Miller
Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink
Congresswoman Constance A. Morella
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes
Norton
Congressman Tom Osborne
Congressman Ed Pastor
Congressman Bill Pascrell
Congressman Donald M. Payne
Congressman Martin Olav Sabo
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
Congressman Max Sandlin
Congressman Christopher Shays
Congressman Mark Udall
Congressman Curt Weldon
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DONORS
The Tahirih Justice Center has been an
organization fueled by an outpouring of
support from concerned organizations
and individuals throughout the world.
These supporters have provided both
financial and in-kind donations, and
have formed the broad foundation of
volunteers on which Tahirih has been
built. Without the help of individuals,
like you, the Tahirih Justice Center
would not be able to do the work that it
does. Thank you.
FOUNDATIONS AND
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
Altria Group, Inc. “Doors of Hope”
American Gift Fund
AOL Time Warner Foundation
Bridgeway Charitable Foundation
Brightland Charitable Fund
The David & Minnie Berk Foundation
Meyer Foundation
The Moriah Fund, Inc.
Third Wave Foundation
Trellis Fund
United States Department of Justice,
Violence Against Women Office
V-Day
Washington Area Women’s Foundation
Women’s Bar Association Foundation
CORPORATIONS
Altria Group, Inc.
American University, Washington
College of Law
Arnold & Porter
Chevron Texaco
Cole, Raywid & Braverman, LLP
Eli Lilly & Co.
EMP’s Africa Fund
Ernst & Young, LLP
Estee Lauder
Fannie Mae
Hogan & Hartson, LLP
Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP
Maggio & Kattar
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris
Glovsky & Popeo
Oracle Corporation
Quinn Gillespie & Associates
United Food & Commercial
Workers International Union
Wilmer Cutler & Pickering
TJC Washington Lawyers Network
INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER
DONORS WHO HAVE GIVEN
$250 OR MORE
Val Abbassi
Maryam Afshar
Hussein Ahdieh
Chad & Tara Akhavan
Ramin & Yasaman Akhavan
Jonathan & Barbara Alexander
Soheil Araghi
Catherine Arenas
Kathleen Behan
Meridith Brown
Anita & Christian Chapman
Martha Cochran
Jeffrey Connaughton
Creative Association International, Inc.
Sandra Crippen
Denis Calabrese Company
Elizabeth Derbes
Mary DeRosa
Karen & Roger Donahue
Mark Epstein
Caela Farren
Vicentee Ferguson
Delilah Fullilove
Ali Ghaemi
Farzad & Neda Ghassemi
Thomas Gibian
Paul Glist
Michael Haslip
Mehrdad and Shohreh Iman
Edwrd & Victoria Jaycox
N. Kalili
Virginia Knaplund
Paul & Ruth Lattimore
Laurence & Gloria Lieberman
David Lopilato
Marilyn Love
Farhad & Marjanaeh Manavi
Ruhollah Manavi
Joan Maxwell
Irma & Gerald McDonald
McGinn Group
Amy McGinnis
Pamela Melendy
Metropolitan Memorial United
Methodist Church
Kambiz & Sima Mobini
Jeanne & Victor Monty
Melanie Mouzoon
Gilbert & Leigh Muro
John E. Murphy
Natren, Inc.
Leslie Nickel
Oro Valley Bahá’í Community
Katherine Penn
Jennifer Perkins
Nagmeh Platenberg
Juliet Porch & Ashwin Deshmukh
KC & Aimee Porter
Kathy & Soheil Rabbani
Mark & Carrie Rackow
Farah Ramchandani
Hamid & Mitro Rastegar
Claire Reade
Sohaila & Firouz Rezazadeh
Jeff Richman
Ramin & Fariba Rostami
F & N Rouhani
Jane Russell
Cornelia Rutledge
Mary Anne & Barry Ryan
Saint Mary’s College
Soheil & Noura Samimi
Carrie Smith
Jeffrey & Claudia Smith
Michael Sozan
Michelle Spratt
Janet Taylor
The Cornbread Foundation
Ruth M. Thomas
Annan Thum
Total Facility
United Methodist Women Staats
Memorial Fund
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Jerray Wei
Richard Witter
Editor’s Note: Although every effort is
made to ensure the accuracy of this listing, we may overlook someone. If this
is the case, please accept our apology
and notify us immediately.
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Sean Amini
Angela Angelovska
George Cherry
Michael J. Colella
Sarah Collins
Gayle and Craig Forrest
Michael A. Hairston
Dr. Kavian Milani
Gil Miller-Muro
Gilbert Muro, Sr.
Dr. Ilham Nasser
Damian Odess-Gillette
Connie Sterling
Athena Viscusi
Washington Wizards
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F I NA N C I A L I N F O R M AT I O N
Financial Position
Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents......................................................................................................................... $181,457
Accounts Receivable............................................................................................................................................$500
Prepaid Expenses............................................................................................................................................. $2,797
Inventory ........................................................................................................................................................ $1,396
Property and Equipment............................................................................................................................... $13,841
Rent Deposit................................................................................................................................................... $2,700
Total Assets.................................................................................................................................... $202,691
Liabilities
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses....................................................................................................... $14,506
Net Assets
Unrestricted ................................................................................................................................................ $187,635
Temporarily Restricted .................................................................................................................................... $1,000
Total Net Assets ............................................................................................................................. $188,635
Total Liabilities and Net Assets ...................................................................................................... $202,691
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted support
Donated professional services................................................................................................................... $1,040,949
Grants......................................................................................................................................................... $288,559
Banquet revenues ........................................................................................................................................ $101,224
Direct benefits to banquet attendees ............................................................................................................. $22,019
Contributions ............................................................................................................................................... $69,049
Honorarium.................................................................................................................................................. $35,150
Interest income ............................................................................................................................................... $3,085
Income generating activities ............................................................................................................................ $2,270
Miscellaneous income .........................................................................................................................................$263
Total Unrestricted Support .......................................................................................................... $1,518,530
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Expenses
Program Services .................................................................. $1,344,752
Management and General ......................................................... $60,115
Tahirih Justice Center 2002 Expenses
Fundraising ............................................................................... $33,303
Total Expenses................................................................ $1,438,170
Change in Unrestricted Net Assets ............................................ $80,360
Net Assets - Beginning of Year ............................................ $86,787
Net Assets - End of Year .................................................... $188,635
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Change in Net Assets.................................................................... $101,848
Adjustments to Reconcile Change in Net Assets to Net Cash Used
for Operating Activities: Depreciation .......................................... $3,091
(Increase) Decrease in:
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses ..................................... $1,076
Inventory..................................................................................... $1,396
Accounts Receivable ........................................................................$500
Prepaid Expenses ......................................................................... $2,797
Net Cash provided by Operating Activities ........................................................................................................ $99,176
Cash Flows from Investing Activities Purchases of Property and Equipment ........................................................ $8,894
Net Cash provided by Investing Activities ............................................................................................................ $8,894
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents ....................................................................................................... $90,282
Cash and Cash Equivalents - December 31, 2002 ........................................................................... $181,457
Tahirih Justice Center 2002 Income
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C O L L A B O R AT I O N S
Understanding the importance of working collaboratively with like-minded organization to promote justice for women and girls fleeing violence,
Tahirih has developed working relationships with the following
organizations:
• International Human Rights Law Group
• Korean American Women in Need
• Korean Community Service Center
• Lawyer’s Committee for Human Rights
• Legal Services of North Carolina
• Loudoun County Transitional Housing Program
• Loudoun County Department of Mental Health
• Mary House
• Migrant Immigrant Refugee Cultural Support (MIRECS)
• Montgomery County Abused Persons Program
• American University Human Rights Law Clinic
• My Sister’s Place
• Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Asian Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project
• National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United
• Asian (Women’s) Self Help Association
States, Working Group on CEDAW Ratification
• AYUDA
• North American Council for Muslim Women
• Betty Ann Kranke Shelter
• NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Boat People SOS
• Support Our Survivors (S.O.S.)
• Campaign for Migrant Domestic Workers Rights
• Virginians Against Domestic Violence
• Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition
• Vital Voices Global Partnership
• Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Services
• WEAVE Inc.
• Center for Multicultural Human Services
• Women for Afghan Women
• Crossways Community
• Women’s Alliance for Peace & Human Rights in
• Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• D.C. Bridge Builders Community
• Fairfax County Domestic Violence Pilot Project, Region II
• Family Violence Prevention Fund
• Freedom Network
• Hogar Hispano
Afghanistan
Tahirih Staff and Board
S TA F F
Executive Director
Layli Miller-Muro, M.A., J.D.
Director of Legal Services
Lisa T. Johnson-Firth, Esq.
Pro Bono Coordinating Attorney
Anjum Kapoor Sikka, J.D.
Staff Attorney
Colleen Renk, M.A., J.D.
Paralegal
Katherine Atkinson
Office Manager
Barfonce Baldwin
Development Associate
Danielle M. Antonio, M.A.
Administrative Assistant
Faranak Aghdasi
Public Policy Associate
(John Gardner Fellow)
Heidi Boas
Accountant (part-time)
Naghmeh Platenburg
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Robert B. Ahdieh, Esq.,
Emory University Law School
Mimi E. Alemayehou,
International Executive Services Corps
Debbie Biller
Dawn M. Browning, Esq.,
Legal Services Corporation
Farida,
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Rachael Galoob Ortega, Esq.,
Cole, Raywid & Braverman
Layli Miller-Muro, Esq.,
Tahirih Justice Center (ex-officio)
Vasu Mohan,
International Foundation for
Election Systems
Leslie Nickel, Esq.,
Arnold & Porter
Michael Sozan, Esq.,
Arnold & Porter
Marti Thomas, Esq.,
Quinn Gillespie & Associates
Marla Zometsky,
National Democratic Institute
BOARD OF
ADVISORS
Jamshid Amini,
President and General Owner,
American Executive Limousine Service
Kathleen Behan, Esq.,
Partner, Arnold & Porter
Mark Epstein, Esq.,
COO, Physicians for Social
Responsibility
Michael Maggio, Esq.,
Managing Partner, Maggio &
Kattar, P.C.
Ambassador Clovis Maksoud,
Former Ambassador, Arab League to
the United Nations; Professor,
American University,
Washington, D.C.
Judge Dorothy Nelson,
Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit, Pasadena, CA
Jan Pederson, Esq.,
Partner, Pederson & Freedman
Jamin Raskin, Esq.,
Law Professor, American
University, Washington, D.C.
PERMANENT
MEMBERS
Anita Chapman,
Washington, D.C.
Layli Miller-Muro, Esq.,
Founder, Tahirih Justice Center,
Washington, D.C.
Larry Miller,
Executive Director, Landegg
University, Switzerland
Michael Penn, Ph.D.,
Professor of Psychology, Franklin and
Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Puran Stevens,
Director, Bahá’í Office for Refugees,
Wilmette, IL